365 Days of Columbo: May 30th

Happy birthday Buddy Joe Hooker!

Born on May 30, 1942, in Vallejo, California, he's an actor, director, stuntman, and stunt coordinator. He began his career as a child actor on the television series "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" and continued to appear in shows like "Gunsmoke," "Father Knows Best," and "Twilight Zone."

Under the stage name Buddy Hart, he played Chester, one of Wally Cleaver’s best friends on "Leave It to Beaver" from 1957 to 1960.

Hooker's expertise in designing and performing vehicle stunts has made him a prominent figure in the film industry. His work as a stunt coordinator is notable in films such as "To Live and Die in L.A.," "Jade," and "Death Proof." He also performed groundbreaking stunts in "Hooper," where he doubled for Jan-Michael Vincent.

He made his contribution to Columbo as a policeman who's there for the big explosion moment in A Bird in the Hand.

His contributions to the stunt community have been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2014 World Stunt Awards. He's also an original member and five-term president of the stunt talent organization Stunts Unlimited.

He is married to Gayle Hooker, also a stunt performer, and they have twin sons who followed in their parents' footsteps, working as stunt performers in the film "Spy Kids".